Genus

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT GENUS - PAGE 4

April 19 (Reuters) - A new species of gecko with black and gold bands like a bumblebee and slender toes termed a "striking surprise" has been discovered deep in the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea, the U.S. Geological survey said. The lizard, which measures about 13 cm (5 inches) from head to tail and is covered with rows of skin nodules that make it easier for it to conceal itself on the forest floor, was collected on Manus Island in March, 2010 and described in a report published in the journal "Zootaxa" in April.

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - Sleepy Hollow has its headless horseman and now Montana has a headless ladybug. The newly discovered insect tucks its head into its throat - making it not only a new species but an entirely new genus, or larger classification of plants and animals. Ross Winton captured the insect in 2009 in traps he set in a sand dune while an entomology graduate student at Montana State University. Winton, now a wildlife technician in Idaho, at first thought he had parts of an ant but then discovered the bug can hide its head, much like a turtle ducking into its shell.

You know the feeling. You're a confident gardener, and you know that using the proper botanical names of plants is more precise and avoids confusion. But the prospect of trying to pronounce those tongue-twisting Greek- and Latin-based names gives you the willies. Is the species name microphylla, you wonder nervously, supposed to be pronounced "my-crow-FILL-a" or "my-crah-FY-la"? Is liatris-the species name for the prairie plants commonly known as gayfeather or blazing star-supposed to sound like "lee-AT-ris" or "LYE-AT-ris"?

With the unloading of a bed frame, box spring and mattress from a rented Budget truck, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Alan Keyes moved into the second-floor apartment of a Calumet City two-flat Thursday. Trying to squelch critics' claims that he is a carpetbagger running to represent a state where he's never lived to benefit his public speaking and commentary career, Keyes picked the south suburb because it is "almost a microcosm of Chicago but also of Illinois." The town is ethnically and racially diverse and Keyes' new neighbors include African-Americans, Hispanics and Caucasians.

They may seem opaque to most of us moderns who know no Latin or Greek, but the botanical names of plants often translate into crystal-clear descriptive terms. Knowing what they mean can, in a few cases, make choosing plants for the garden easier. Planning a white garden? It might help to know that the blooms of plants named "alba" might only be whitish, while those called "niveus" are snow white, notes Julia Fitzpatrick-Cooper, who teaches plant identification at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

Sweet cherries should not be confused with sour cherries, which withstand cooking and are best when used in baked goods and savory sauces. Sweet cherries enjoy a longer season than sour cherries; they typically are available through early August. Hundreds of types of sweet cherries exist, but the most common North American variety is the large, heart-shape, dark red Bing cherry. Lighter-color sweet cherries such as Emperor Francis and Rainier are sometimes available at farmers markets.

Jewels in the Crown: Last spring, the hot item in New York was the Hawaiian shirt, in bold cotton floral prints. This spring, the big shirt looks to be a winner, but there are indications that a subtrend is also waiting in the wings. The sumptuous, romantic flavor of India in the days of the Raj, which inspired many of the London designers for spring, already shows signs of becoming a popular look in New York. At San Francisco, a trendy Manhattan specialty retail and wholesale clothing and accessories operation, tapestry, brocade, moire and lush wallpaper floral prints are expected to be hot sellers for spring, according to owner and designer Howard Partman.

Greek oregano bites back. Sweet marjoram is true to its name. Wild marjoram is tasteless but blossoms beautifully. An aromatic genus of many flavors and species, Origanum, which includes both oregano and marjoram, is enjoying an illustrious reign as "Herb of the Year." The distinction is bestowed annually by the International Herb Association in Jacksonville, Fla., as a way to promote the featured herb's culinary, medicinal and ornamental uses. Embracing Origanum's year of fame, herb enthusiasts across the country are highlighting the ancient perennial native to the Mediterranean in workshops, lectures, cooking demonstrations and celebrations.